Generating Fog with Dry Ice

Dry ice fog is highly popular for creating spooky atmospheres at parties or events, especially during Halloween. For detailed information, Click here.

Dry ice fog forms when you place dry ice into warm or hot water. This produces a dense white fog comprising condensed water vapor and carbon dioxide gas, released during sublimation—the transition of dry ice from solid to gas.

To create dry ice fog, you'll need:

• Container

  • Choose a large container, like a bucket or roasting pan, to accommodate the dry ice and allow space for the fog.

• Hot water

  • Hot tap water works perfectly—use it as hot as you can handle.

• Dry ice

  • Dry ice is available in blocks or pellets. For this task, you can use either form.

Always handle dry ice with caution. Wear gloves, or use an oven mitt or towel. Brief contact is harmless, but prolonged skin contact can cause severe burns. For more safety measures, refer to our dry ice safety page.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Fog

Step 1

Fill the container halfway with hot water.

Step 2

Break the dry ice block. Instructions on breaking dry ice can be found here.

Step 3

Add dry ice pieces to the hot water. Fog will immediately start forming. As a general rule, one pound of dry ice will generate 2-3 minutes of fog.

Here's an example of fog created in a roasting pan, 3-4 minutes after adding dry ice:

Link to TOPCAT

Step 4

After 5-10 minutes, as the water cools, fog production will slow. To maintain the fog, add more hot water or replace the cold water. Keep adding dry ice as it sublimates.

Here's a look at the roasting pan when the water gets too cold for significant fog:

The amount and duration of fog depend on water temperature, container size, and dry ice quantity. Increase fog production by using hotter water and more dry ice. Note: hotter water causes faster dry ice sublimation.

Here's a condensed view of dry ice fog in a roasting pan:

Another example of dry ice fog in a bucket:

Create Long-Lasting Fog Effects with Dry Ice